Smart Confirms No Hybrid Plans for #5 in Europe
Smart Europe has confirmed it will not offer a plug-in hybrid version of its upcoming #5 flagship SUV in European markets.
The announcement comes after reports suggested the Mercedes/Geely joint venture was developing a hybrid variant of the model.
A Smart Europe spokesperson told EV Powered the suspected hybrid prototype “is not part of Smart Europe’s inventory and is not part of a Smart Europe development project.”
The company is developing hybrid options for the Chinese market, where consumer interest has shifted toward range extender EVs and plug-in hybrids.
“At Smart Europe, we see individual mobility powered by combustion engines and, in particular, with hybrid drives as a transitional technology towards purely electric driving,” the spokesperson said.
Smart’s European lineup will feature three all-electric models by 2025: the #1, #3, and #5.
The #5, set to launch this year in Europe and the UK, will be Smart’s flagship electric SUV. It will use 800V architecture, potentially supporting:
- Battery capacity up to 100kWh
- Range exceeding 400 miles
- Charging speeds around 300kW
Power output is expected to reach 335bhp for single-motor versions and 416bhp for the all-wheel-drive variant.
The twin-motor versions will include multiple off-road modes for sand, snow, mud and rock conditions. Available features include a roof-mounted lightbar, underbody protection, and roof carrier options.
While committing to all-electric vehicles in Europe, Smart hasn’t ruled out alternative powertrains for other markets. The spokesperson noted that Smart “cannot exclude any technological solution for the future” and can “come in many forms and sizes.”
The #5 will position itself above the current #1 and #3 models, marking Smart’s largest and most powerful vehicle to date.
